Marketed as 'the essential adventure jacket for year-round outdoor activity', the Odin Light comes with a short fit, a helmet-compatible hood and an untrammelled design complete with subtle venting at its sides. If you spread your activities wide from climbing to cycling, this might be the jacket you're looking for.
As mentioned, the Odin has a short cut which reaches to the waist - perhaps sportier than most walkers might want in truly wet conditions, but not so unappealing to cyclists and climbers. However, it comes with twin drawcords to keep it tight at the hem. The arms are relatively short and the wrists are quite loosely elasticated, so they don't benefit from that same level of adjustment. The overall fit is medium - neither baggy nor atheltic - and the hood comes with two levels of adjustment: two drawcords at the neck and a hook and loop patch on the rear. It cinches down well, but movement is entirely limited when it's in use, so to look to the side you're going to have to move your whole body. Not ideal.
The Odin has three pockets, all zippered and with a water resistant design. The lower two hand pockets are a moderate size and extend downwards to the hem - they are large enough to hold a map, which is appealing. The upper chest pocket is very small, but could carry a compass or other essential bit of kit. The main zip is straightforward and functioned well during testing, partly thanks to its inner storm flap.
The Helly Tech Performance fabric is a 2.5 layer material (ie it has a waterproof and breathable section joined to an abrasion resistant layer) and in use it has a kind of clamminess that you won't find with many other competitors. However, it held up well during our testing and there's no doubting it as a waterproof garment.
In conclusion: it's let down by a too-short cut, non-adjustable cuffs and a restrictive hood, but this is still a versatile waterproof jacket that some users will find great value in.
